Friday, August 11, 2017

There's no better way to begin a Friday morning than to be Tweeting to the Wizarding World Book Club. Before the discussion takes off, I always find fans prepping for it. Love it! I found a Mandrake today (handmade cutesy version!). Discussions are every Friday at 4pm BST (11am EST, my time!).

4. Add enough water to the skillet so as to submerge the lentils and have a centimeter of water level above the contents.

5. Bring the lentils to a boil, and reduce heat to a simmer and let the mixture cook (closed lid) until all liquid dries. Add 2 teaspoons salt (subject to taste) somewhere in the middle. Note: While lentils are cooking, open the lid occasionally and give the contents a stir to avoid sticking to the base.

1. Squeeze the canned mushrooms of all excess fluid and dry them out on a dish towel for a couple of hours. You may set them in front of a fan to speed up drying.2. In a frying pan, add very little vegetable oil (just to barely coat all mushrooms) and add mushrooms.3. Sprinkle garlic powder on the mushrooms, sparingly.4. Mix well with a spatula and set on high heat.5. Sprinkle salt and pepper according to taste.6. Saute the mushrooms well until whatever little fluid remained, dries up.7. Lay them out on a serving plate and garnish with your choice of cheese (as much as you like!).8. Microwave the plate to melt the cheese and serve hot!

Last year I had joined Pottermore only to be highly disappointed and sorted into Hufflepuff! *DEATH STARE!* Who does that? So, I'd deleted the account because I am NOT Hufflepuff. I have emptied my pockets buying Gryffindor merch from all nooks and crevices of the planet and cyberspace. I shall not be sorted Hufflepuff!

Then, this year I dived head straight into research as to what was the secret formula of being sorted into Gryffindor on Pottermore. Blimey! The planet is RAGING about how Pottermore sorted them into houses they don't like. Poor Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) did not get Slytherin! How cold blooded evil is that?! I was; however, not going down without a worthy Gryffindor fight!

Some answers on the multiple choice quiz are obvious Gryffindor answers. But there are trick questions there that are responsible for changing your results. O, and I tried noting down answers from YouTube videos that show how people got Gryffindor. They're not reliable. The same question with the same answer choices was answered differently in different videos and both people got Gryffindor. For example, Which pet would you take to Hogwarts? - I would always answer Snowy Owl. And someone answered Dragon Toad and got Gryffindor. Then there was a question that simply asks 'Left or Right?' and people became Gryffindors by choosing both options. What was I to do?

So, in the end what mattered were prayers! I answered my Gryffindor instinct obvious answers, some learned answers from YouTube ON BIG RISK and some totally new questions popped up like 'Moon or Stars?' and I went with my instincts and Gryffindor logic. Like I chose Moon because of Professor Lupin and Moony and the friendship with Harry. Then I said a prayer again and ...

Friday, August 4, 2017

I joined the Wizarding World Book Club by Pottermore this week *BLINK BLINK* (What was I waiting for?). Since I am re-reading the Harry Potter books again (as part of reclaiming my life!), this comes as the perfect little treat that connects me to the fan world of Potterheads doing the same. Every week the WW Book Club is initiating Twitter discussions based on a theme from the chapters of the books being read that week. This week was Chapters 1 through 5 from The Chamber Of Secrets and I was ready to Tweet!

I was excited today about my first WWBook Club Twitter discussion. I had calculated the equivalent of EST according to the 4pm BST they had announced for the session to begin. Questions were posted and I indulged!

Welcome to our first Chamber of Secrets discussion! Harry has just received a warning from the Ministry, but we're curious to know... pic.twitter.com/rq9FCO2ITF

The Abbie hides her face, ducks, and runs away from the scene - far far away. They call the highway the 'River of Steel' in an article online. How am I supposed to NOT fear something that has a name like that?

My relationship status with highways.

Driving the interstate highway has been a fear of mine since 7 years now. I started driving in 2012 and drove the highway only once to test the waters. That happened in 2012 and ever since I have been using in-roads to travel. Each time someone said something about an event that was in a far off city, I would duck and hide. My GPS and Google Maps always stayed on 'Avoid Highways' mode and I would rather drive 45 minutes than to take a shorter route on the highway.

I was freaked out not so much about the high speed but the quick decision making I was supposed to execute while driving at 55 miles per hour at the very least. It always seemed to be like being pressured to answer a multiple choice question while riding a rollercoaster. And someone said, "You take a wrong exit and you end up in a wrong city!" and it sounded like ending up in a different dimension from sci-fi movies.

Seven Years Later...

It is typical with me. When fear increases beyond tolerance, I turn a deaf ear to it, give it a blind eye, and refuse to let it take over me. And then I grab the bull by its horns! And so, I did. I requested my ultra busy younger brother for training sessions because the whole 'she can't drive the highway' thing was getting on my nerves. It was one of those daring steps where I pushed myself out of the comfort zone ... comfort zone??? ... out of my mind ... to kill that little fear bug in my head. I admit that my heart was pounding very loud, my palms were sweaty on my Nightmare Before Christmas steering wheel cover, and I was very fidgety.

I had had a hearty breakfast in prep for this
insane day. With a pounding heart, words of
safety and protection and ease of affairs
in constant recitation, sweaty palms, and
the Waze App and my highly important
VVIP brother dictating the way ... I picked
up speed and drove out onto the biggest
interstate highway of Maryland that goes
all the way to Virginia and beyond.

Know from my experience that it is no big deal! It's an overrated fear hype!

Use a magnetic holder to prop up your smartphone in convenient sight. I had mine set on my AC vent (courtesy my brother).

Install Waze App because it shows you the shortest, best traffic route for your destination and keeps talking to you throughout your journey. It even tells you if there is a police vehicle nearby or a vehicle parked in shoulder ahead.

Breathe!

Pick up steady speed on the entry ramp, and enter the highway when a vehicle seems slightly far and you can make a move. Do this by using your side mirror.

Stay in the right most lane for starters and change one lane to the left because the right most lane drivers will have to yield to vehicles entering and leaving the highway.

Always drive the speed limit! Do not bother about vehicles passing by or overtaking, maintain speed and control.

Listen to Waze and keep a check on the Exit numbers written on the highway sign boards.

Don't fear if you take a wrong exit. You will not end up in a different dimension. It will still be the same state of the United States of America. Waze will continue guiding you.

Believe in yourself.

Don't train with people who bring your morale down. The trainer should be patient.

Monday, July 31, 2017

*INSERT HAPPY SCREAM HERE* ♫ Hedwig's Theme♫ Plays ... Happy Birthday Harry! Happy Birthday Jo Rowling, the marvelous lady who created the wonderful world for us Potterheads! That photo up there couldn't be a more suitable throwback other than today. I had recreated mini versions of Hagrid's dirty cakes for Sara's 21st birthday (4 year ago!). That same blessed year we went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for the first time! The excitement was unreal!

This morning I woke up to #HappyBirthdayHarryPotter and decided there is no wonderful way to sum up #HarryPotterJuly (blogathon month started by Sara) other than showing the world my Potterhead pride.

My brain has an annoying habit of fogging up during days when chaos levels are so high you don't have time to attend to bathroom needs. I find moments of peace when in between most hated trips; to the hardware store, the everyday grocery mart, doctors' offices, I get to sip some Chai at a Starbucks Coffee (ironic!) and I consciously mute all instructions being shot at me. The Life of Abbie plays like a big Greek tragedy and the basic dramatic psychosis keeps going on and on. So, as soon as the effects of the Italian bergamot and lavender in the London Fog Tea Latte disappear, I turn the keys in the ignition and get going again. Another irony (too much iron in this piece of writing) is the portrait of the landscape in the background (the picture up there! ^). That woman is a bit too relaxed --- mockingly relaxed --- like hair hanging free off a bench type relaxed.

Life's routine has not normalized for me since Ramadan ended. I know, I know. It's been a month already. But I still haven't decluttered my HQ solid enough to be announced for Summer. There are zones that look like an Armageddon aftermath. These include my wardrobe, the guest room storage closet, and the guest room dresser area itself.

How did things get out of hand? O, it always comes to this. Since September of last year (2016) I have been slacking. One after another some grand event was coming up and I kept piling undone things. Now that Hajj, Hajj party, Umrah, travels, Ramadan, Eid, and everything else is over I can put the decorations back into the storage boxes and stow them away. I am working on rotating things in my wardrobe so if Tom Riddle's basilisk is living somewhere in there I can evict him. What else is a landlady for?

The brain fog has made me forgetful, and I have resorted to posting notes as reminders for myself everywhere. I know I will (or someone else will) re-clutter my clothes piles so I have posted categories of the piles on top of them on the wall as a reminder. I intend to shock myself with my own personal management skills.

While I am fighting a seemingly endless battle with all this INSIDE the house, the OUTSIDE is screaming for attention. The heat wave of summers has toasted the yard crispy and I am guilty because I had the irrigation system sealed shut in Fall. Why? Because there was too much water wastage - it was watering the streets! And meet another horror!

Every year I was paying $400 just to had this backflow pressure valve inspected! Yes, the water company has concerns that harmful contaminants from the irrigation system (the innocent irrigation system!) would flow back into the water supply and contaminate drinking water. So I had to pay the price! Crazy how the previous homeowners were dead broke but they still had a $400 annual inspection going just to keep sprinklers running. Plus, every winter I paid about $180 to have the system 'winterized' where they blow water out of everything and seal the system shut until I pay $180 again in Spring to re-open! CRAZY! And despite all this ... every winter this crazy machine would freeze and then explode! Yes! Kaboom! Water spray all over! Got it pulled out! Sprinkler system is now officially closed!

A post shared by The Abbie (@abbiesadventures) on Jul 21, 2017 at 8:11am PDT

A very boring and sweaty trip to the hardware store (Home Depot) resulted in a genius sprinkler that rotates! To speed things up a bit, we picked it up and watered the expanse of territory we have by hand!

So, anyway, those are the mundane bits that sort of aggravated my brain fog this month. It took a trip to Hot Topic and some retail therapy with Harry Potter merch to clear it up.

Came July, the season of barbecues, and we had a backyard barbecue! I am alien to the workings of a barbecue grill so I save the planet from fires and refrain from trying anything with coal and gasoline. My brother and his wife set it up and I brought the fancy stuff like buttery baked corns on the cobs. Sara added her self-created recipe of Cajun Chicken & Veggies (a big hit!) and butter seasoned rice.

It was a fantastic evening with the perfectly done barbecued chicken and the charred veggie skewers made from our homegrown vegetable garden (courtesy brother and his wife!). Everything from the veggie garden is coming out great except for the radishes that turned sour due to heat and wrong timing (had to be thrown!).

A post shared by The Abbie (@abbiesadventures) on Jul 28, 2017 at 9:18pm PDT

Serious goodness happened when I stumbled upon the idea of making Karhai style Keema with Shan Kata Kat Masala. The Dhaba Style Keema turned out so delicious I can serve it at a dinner!

The inspiration came from the Chicken Kata Kat Curry that I had made earlier. Why not put Keema in and try? Kali Dal was another staple that I cooked again. My 2.5 year old baby niece loves it with plain rice. Next month, I'd post the recipe!

Next, I put Shan Punjabi Channa Masala on chickpeas and potatoes and made a Pulao (pilaf) with rice. The Punjabi Channa Pulao (meatless) has got be the best side rice dish, in addition to Tehri (Yellow Turmeric Rice).

Aloo Methi Palak (Potatoes, Fenugreek, Spinach) (recipe HERE) is literally named after the ingredients used in the dish and has been a favorite among adults of the family since always. I remember developing a liking for spinach because of this dish and it doesn't have too many ingredients, or too many steps. The prep though is slightly time consuming. You must chop spinach leaves and chop potatoes and boil them for a minute (to reduce cooking time because spinach cooks super fast). My mother always requests this dish and typically eats this with a dollop of yogurt and a slice of bread/paratha. Check out what happened when I texted her a photo of what was on the lunch menu!

Pani Puri Adventure

I had an adventurous encounter with Pani Puri at a fancy wedding I attended at the Gaylord National Harbor Convention Center Resort. The idea is to put the Puri in your mouth all in one go. The challenge is not to spill a single drop of the spicy syrup that goes into it, and not to drop a single chickpea from the filling while you are at it. 🎥 Click Play to watch video below or click HERE

A post shared by The Abbie (@abbiesadventures) on Jul 28, 2017 at 5:57pm PDT

Towards the end of July I started getting my lost cooking spunk back. Yes, I lost it along the way because I was beat! I contributed to the Bulk Cooking day with Chicken Biryani (made using Shan's Karachi Beef Biryani spice mix). Ahh, the smell of fresh chopped cilantro and the chicken steaming through the rice.

A post shared by The Abbie (@abbiesadventures) on Jul 28, 2017 at 9:44am PDT

Let's Talk Pizza Now!

I have my pizza face on when I get a pizza craving. That mode struck in the 3rd week and I went bonkers. I wanted to go back to Stone Hot Pizza in VA because they have whole grain crust! Watch the sights and sounds of my Pizzariffic weekend. 📷Video below. My ultimate fav at Stone Hot is the BBQ Chicken Pizza (BEST!). Others we have tried are Quatro Carne Pizza (Halal turkey bacon, beef meatballs, Turkey pepperoni), and Romana Pizza (beef meatballs).

A post shared by The Abbie (@abbiesadventures) on Jul 24, 2017 at 9:46pm PDT

Lunch With A Friend

This had been on my Summer Bucket List 2017 and that happened! Sara and I had Qz over - she's our super awesome friend who talks sense. She brought Singaporean Rice (I NEED to sort out my priorities and try that recipe) - they were delicious! We had some Halal fried chicken over. And Sara re-created her Cajun Chicken. I really wanted to enjoy the Pioneer Woman dinnerware and the melamine platter and salad spoons I had gotten from Walmart. They looked so Summer-y!

I am a Red Robin Royalty Club member. 👑 *Making a Queen face right now* They shot me an email saying any gourmet is free since I had earned a 10th item free reward! So, I took the ladies out for a bite. We discovered some seriously amazing seasoned fries. 🎥 Video Below!

A post shared by The Abbie (@abbiesadventures) on Jul 27, 2017 at 8:51am PDT

Summer Picnic Time!

It was a barbecue by the Lake Fairfax in Virginia and there was seriously good food! I adored the lakeview. Wow, July has taken me to some beautiful bodies of water. It was the fancy wedding by the Potomac River at the Baltimore Harbor first, and now this. I am so thankful I live on the East Coast. Catch some beautiful sunny glimpses of the gleaming lake and a typical wooden bridge besides it in the 🎥 Video below (under the photograph).

A post shared by The Abbie (@abbiesadventures) on Jul 30, 2017 at 5:28pm PDT

This has been a month of great eats! And with August begin the great workouts and dieting so we are all thinner (comparatively!) by the time we say goodbye to 2017! I leave you with a last photo of a wedding cake piece I devoured without thinking about how it would add to the tyre of fat around my belly!

You cannot miss the owls at The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. They are not just pets, but also mail carriers. I adore that bit about...

Sara’s Baked Creations is on Mission Sweetness! Sara and Abbie are hobby bakers who bake for friends and family only. We are not a commercial bakery business; it gives us joy to spread smiles while enjoying sisterhood and living our passion for baking.